KORAT, Thailand - Maj. Greg Richert, Chief of Aerospace Medicine at 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and medical lead for Exercise Cope Tiger 2011, is served noodles by a student from Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand, March 14. Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Lt. Col. Mike Akiowa, a pilot stationed at the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and Senior Airman Antonio Savage, stationed at the 44th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, honed their Thai pronunciation skills with Panwad Aumsuan Pan and Mintra Min Bung, students from the Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand, March 14. The Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Capt. Tyler March, an F-15 pilot with the 44th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, learns to count in Thai with Pure Wanviag and Tup Benya, students from Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand, March 14. Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Lt. Col. Mike Akiowa, a pilot stationed at the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, explains Hawaiian history to students and teachers at the Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand March 14. The Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Capt. Jeremy Buxton, a pilot with the 96th Air Refueling Squadron from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, practices his Thai with Natacha Chotsongnern and Supapon Kongpudsa from Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand, March 14. Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Capt. Adam Gaudinski, an F-15 pilot stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, learns to say his numbers in Thai with Nine Juntaporn, a student from Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand, March 14. Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Capt. Adam Gaudinski, an F-15 pilot with the 44th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and Nine Juntaporn and Tum Doungporn, students from Ang Huay Yang School March 14 in Korat, Thailand, enjoy a game of tic-tac-toe. Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Capt. Clifton Nowell, flight doctor from the 96th Air Refueling Squadron from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, learns to make soup with Sgt. Sommai Phala of the Royal Thai Air Force during a community outreach visit to Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand, March 14. Airmen visited the school with members of the Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore Air Forces during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted in Thailand March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
by Capt. Kirsten Udd
13th Air Force Public Affairs
3/15/2011 - KORAT, Thailand -- U.S., Thailand and Singapore Airmen participated in a cultural exchange at Ang Huay Yang School in Korat, Thailand, March 14, as part of Cope Tiger 2011, a multilateral joint and combined field training exercise.
Each year, exercise Cope Tiger's community outreach programs enable Airmen from the three countries to strengthen ties with the local community.
"These community outreach visits are a great way for our Airmen to experience local culture, see the positive effect we can have during these exercises, and the kids get to practice their English while we get to learn Thai," said Maj. Greg Richert, Chief of Aerospace Medicine at 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and medical lead for Exercise Cope Tiger 2011.
Students of the school delighted in teaching the Airmen words and numbers in Thai and also performed impromptu performances of Thailand's national anthem. For Master Sgt. Chris Lim, Communication and Information supervisor for Cope Tiger 2011, the interaction with the young students will always be remembered.
"The girls were so eager to teach us new words. They made sure we pronounced the words properly and it was a lot of fun," said the sergeant. "Interactions like this one today is just one of the many ways in which we try to build stronger friendships with the local community and our exercise partners."
Captains Adam Gaudinski and Tyler March, F-15 pilots with the 44th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, learned to write numbers in Thai and Arabic and were able to successfully play hangman, tic-tac-toe, and rock-paper-scissors with their group of girls.
The captains and their counterparts recognize the uniqueness of this opportunity to be ambassadors for their nations.
"This was the first time that the military has visited the school students and the students were happy to meet with foreigners. The girls told me it was wonderful to spend time together and enjoyed teaching their numbers and letters," said Royal Thai Air Force Flight Lieutenant Khanthaman Devakul, correspondent for the Joint and Combined Exercise Division, Directorate of Operations, stationed at Don Mueng Air Base in Bangkok, Thailand.
The exchange closed with Airmen from the three militaries joining with the students and teachers in making green papaya salad and cooking a traditional tom yum goong soup.
Cope Tiger aims to improve U.S.-Thailand-Singapore combined readiness and interoperability, to include humanitarian and disaster response capabilities, reinforcing U.S. Pacific Command's theater security cooperation goals in the Southeast Asia region.
